Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee
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Web ID: 18496916great crime novel with sisters solving the case
I was fascinated by the historical setting of Los Angeles during the early 1930's when movies were everything, and on top of that when the racial tensions were ramping up again. I figured that this would be a fantastic book to book end my 2024 reading since I started with Siren Queen by Nghi Vo which had a similar setting, but from the perspective of the screen queen, where this is from the perspective of two friends of the dead starlet. Gemma and May are their father's clouds, capable of doing great things. And when they stumble upon Lulu Wong's body, set out on a mission to find out who killed Lulu. I admire their intrepidness and gumption in going after clues and searching out the potential suspects even when it runs them into danger. I did start questioning if I knew where the plot was headed early on, but I was partially right, so I consider that a win. This is very much a murder mystery a la Nancy Drew, but with two Chinese sisters. Highly recommend for mystery lovers who want a historical setting, and a little bit of nostalgia of crime noir stories.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Noir Red
This novel purports to be about solving a murder and it definitely is that. But it’s so much more. It’s about a marginalized, misunderstood people who frequently come under scrutiny from a fearful public spoonfed data from unreliable newspapers. It’s about politics, sex, scandal, movies, opportunity, family, public outcry and private sorrow. Most of all, it’s about two very different sisters, May and Gemma Chow. Older sister May is thoughtful, kind, compassionate, trusting and intuitive. Gemma is restless, impulsive, sharp tongued, cynical and scheming. Yin and yang. Together, they are often at odds. But they present a united front against a difficult world. More than the murder, this is a book about Californian Chinatown in the 1930s. Chinese people were held under suspicion and that suspicion made them band together in a tight, cohesive group. Throughout the book, we witness the invisible ties that bring these girls in contact with people they know and people who can connect them. One sister has a door slammed in her face by a stranger—only to have her little sister point out a dangling decoration made by someone in her class. She knows who lives in this house and who can help them get answers when the adult answering the door would not. The book is filled with moments like this; it’s almost amusing to see coincidences like this spring forth from the page. What we get from this is a community that constantly reaches out to protect and honor its own. They all share similar notions of family, a notion that comes increasingly in conflict with Gemma and May’s decisions to delve into a murder. They don’t follow a religion per se so much as a set of beliefs that may look like superstition to outsiders. Certain colors are lucky and should be worn to bring good fortune. There’s no need for dating; the red thread of fate will bring people together who are meant to be together. Four is an unlucky number. No building should have four floors and four daughters in one family is definitely a sign of bad luck. The Chow girls are the turbulent center of this story, swinging about at the end of a rope tying them to family and each other. They are obedient daughters—except when they’re lying to their parents. They’re good girls who are moving in directions that will take them away from the familiar lives they once knew. The tragedy of Lulu Wong’s mysterious death is what drives this story; everybody knows about her and no one can stop talking about her. But it is the intrepid, living Chow sisters who breathe life into this thrilling crime story.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Highly Engaging
When a beloved rising star is murdered, Gemma and May Chow know there must be more afoot than the police are letting on. I loved the alternating viewpoints of sisters Gemma and May, as they work to keep their family afloat, and bring their friend's killer to justice. May is the beautiful and responsible older sister, with a looming arranged marriage, and dreams left unrealized. Gemma is the plucky younger sister, with a knack for talking her way in and out of almost any situation. An entertaining historical coming of age tale that brings to life the not so glamorous underside to the bright lights of the silver screen. This story has it all, murder, mystery, sisters, humor, and the flutterings of love. Another solid novel from one of my favorite authors. A highly entertaining read, with great interaction, two different but equally intriguing sisters. Highly recommend! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Enjoyable and thought-provoking historical mystery
Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee is a historical murder mystery set in Chinatown, Los Angeles, 1932. It is told through the dual POVs of two sisters, May and Gemma. Their friend Lulu Wong, a Hollywood actress, has been murdered and the police don't seem to care about finding her killer. May and Gemma, along with their younger sister, Peony, decide to investigate Lulu's death while running their family flower selling business and helping their pregnant mother. The characters are likeable, and the story is well plotted. The narrative is made more interesting by historical, cultural and political details. The racism faced by the Chinese community in L.A. is explored well and presents additional challenges to solving Lulu's murder. The story did slow down at times; however, the pacing issues did not diminish this enjoyable and thought-provoking YA mystery.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
It's Tough Being An Actress
⚠️ Warning: There is mention racism, suggestions of possible s***** assault, fetus death, and death during childbirth ⚠️ Lulu Wong was on her way to breaking the stigma that Chinese people were villains through her acting career. She had previously only played the villain in works and decided she wanted to break the mold and play the heroine. To show a softer, kinder, and more real side to Chinese people in 1932 when Los Angeles was on the move to wipe out Chinatown to put in a new train station. Someone wasn't going to let Lulu change the narrative and stand in their way. Lulu's childhood friend, May Chow, and sister Gemma take it upon themselves to find Lulu's killer after they stumble upon her body in a horse stable. There are so many twists and suspects that you won't figure it out until the very end! My overall ratings for enjoyment and romance are ⭐⭐⭐⭐/💖 It is a murder mystery, but there are also topics of family dynamics, breaking the stigma around Chinese people, equality, traditional gender roles, and interracial relationships. It's so controversial and wonderful!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Captivating
Old Hollywood and all the horror stories we've all heard. "Life gave us plenty of opportunities to be afraid, and an equal number of chances to punch those fears in the nose." Stacy Lee has slowly someone I will keep on the look out for more recently. She has a way of brining emotions we all have and make a beautiful literacy work of art. Jump into this with an open mind so you can trully understand what it was for women in old Hollywood. If you grew up knowing the Black Daliah this will be a great book for you! It keeps you on a hold the entirely of the book and you will at times be upset, laugh and want to punch something. If your on the fence about it..give it a shot you won't be disappointed. Thank you to Bookishfirst for the ARC! It was a pleasure to read this book. Can't wait for other works from Stacy Lee! If you'd like another book from Stacy give "Out Run the Moon"!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Good, but nothing astounding
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I think the writing style is appealing, however, the story itself was kind of boring. The mystery didn't feel as neat as it should have considering it was a murder mystery. I wasn't too surprised by anything, there were a few twists that did make the story a little interesting, but there weren't enough to carry the whole book. What I did like was the relationships. Throughout the story I was really interested in the way the main characters interacted with each other and the rest of the cast of the book. I really would have loved to see more of that. Especially the slight romance that was brought into things, there wasn't enough to make me really care about them. The story itself is one that wasn't bad, but it wasn't really good either. I found it to be just okay. It was a decent story to spend my time with, but I probably won't remember much about it in a few days.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Hollywood Glamour Murder Mystery
When a Chinese-American starlet is found dead in 1930s Los Angeles, three sisters embark on solving the mystery not only to avenge their friend’s death but to avoid further prejudice in an already discriminated community. Stacey Lee once again has woven an intriguing historical tale about underrepresented young Chinese-Americans. The social issues presented to Chinatown during this time period were seamlessly integrated into the narrative. Her vivid imagery and cultural details add depth to a classic murder mystery. I enjoyed the dual points of view from Gemma and May as their individual wit and sisterly banter were engaging. One of the reasons I really like Stacey Lee’s writing is that it can be recommended to readers reading up or down. Meaning it is written for young adults but can also be appropriate for an advanced middle grade reader, while still being enjoyable to adults.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com